U.S. Senator from Arizona Jeff Flake dropped a bombshell on the political world Tuesday, saying he would not seek re-election in 2018.

"This spell will pass, but not by next year," he said.

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"Here's the bottom line: The path that I would have to travel to get the Republican nomination is a path I'm not willing to take, and that I can't in good conscience take," Flake told the Arizona Republic. "There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party."

In his remarks, Flake says he refuses "silent" or "complicit." Flake also made several apparent jabs at the president without naming him directly.

"The efficacy of American leadership around the globe has come into question...Now, it seems that we, the architects of this visionary rules-based world order that has brought so much freedom and prosperity, are the ones most eager to abandon it.

"We must never regard as "normal" the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals," Flake said. "We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country — the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve."

"With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it. We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that," he added.

The freshman senator has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, who has previously called Flake "weak" and "toxic." As of 3:30 pm EST, the White House had not responded to Flake's announcement.

Phoenix crowd last night was amazing - a packed house. I love the Great State of Arizona. Not a fan of Jeff Flake, weak on crime & border!